Organisation profile

Sustainability has many facets. Inter- and transdisciplinary research and teaching characterize the School of Sustainability. Scientists in our research projects work together in the laboratory, on the heath, in the grassland, in the classroom, with the city administration, with farmers, with non-governmental organizations, with companies, with students in the lecture hall and of course at their desks.

Furthermore, we work with regional and national political actors, e.g. ministries, as well as international organizations, e.g. UNEP, UNESCO, EU. We are part of national and international bodies, e.g. sustainability advisory boards of companies, member of the German Sustainability Award, World Biodiversity Council (IPBES), in order to contribute to social change with scientific findings.

Main research areas

Vision
Sustainability science investigates on a theoretical, conceptual and empirical level how to promote sustainable development and how to find and implement effective solutions for current social and ecological challenges. The aim is to create a more sustainable future.

Sustainability researchers are called upon to take responsibility for their research, which is anchored in existing scientific knowledge and methods and serves to make the world a better place for everyone.

Mission
We promote change towards a sustainable future by developing theories, concepts and practices of inclusive education for sustainability, research, governance and management.

We acknowledge the diversity and dynamics of values, norms and behaviour and contribute with transdisciplinary methods to ensuring that tensions and differences between different disciplines, methods, topics and standards are fruitfully taken up and used with productive compromises and further developments towards sustainable development.

Principles
The School of Sustainability is guided by the normative concepts of ecological system integrity and social and economic justice.

Ecological system integrity refers to the safeguarding of life-support systems, as well as the maintenance of the well-being of life on Earth.

With social and economic justice we strive for a world in which all people can fulfil their potential without endangering system integrity and the well-being of others.

Information about the School
The School of Sustainability includes...
... ca. 25 professors
... ca. 100 research assistants
... ca. 1000 students in Bachelor and Master courses

In various inter- and transdisciplinary projects we are constantly researching and working together on changes and solutions for current challenges.

  1. Published

    Nationale Nachhaltigkeitsstrategien - "blinde Flecken" aus und für Genderperspektiven

    Hofmeister, S. & Weller, I., 2004, Bremen: Universität Bremen, 17 p. (Bremer Diskussionspapiere zur institutionellen Ökonomie und Sozial-Ökonomie; no. 55).

    Research output: Working paperWorking papers

  2. Published

    Nationale Verantwortlichkeit und Rote Listen - Carabus nodulosus als Fallbeispiel für die Zusammenführung von Verbreitungsdaten und Gefährdungssituation und die damit verbundenen Probleme

    Aßmann, T. & Matern, A., 2004, Ermittlung der Verantwortlichkeit für die Erhaltung mitteleuropäischer Arten: Referate und Ergebnisse des Symposiums "Ermittlung der Verantwortlichkeit für die Weltweite Erhaltung von Tierarten mit Vorkommen in Mitteleuropa" auf der Insel Vilm vom 17. - 20. November 2003. Gruttke, H. (ed.). Bonn-Bad Godesberg: BfN-Schriftenvertrieb im Landwirtschaftsverlag, p. 235-254 20 p. (Naturschutz und Biologische Vielfalt; vol. 8).

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksContributions to collected editions/anthologiesResearch

  3. Published

    National report Germany

    Boogaart, H. V. D., Plewig, H.-J., Kleipoedßus, S. & Peters, A., 2005, Women, integration & prison: MIP PROJECT Women, Integration and Prison;An analysis of the sociolabour integrationprocesses of women prisoners in Europe.. Cruells, M. & Igareda, N. (eds.). Barcelona: Aurea Editores, p. 210-234 25 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksContributions to scientific reportsResearch

  4. Published

    “Nationals” at Forty: From an Undefined UNCLOS Term to Due Diligence Obligations on the State of Nationality to Combat IUU Fishing

    Honniball, A. N. & Schatz, V. J., 2023, In: International Law Studies. 100, p. 229-265

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    National sustainability strategies: "blind spots" from and for gender perspectives – Example Germany

    Hofmeister, S. & Weller, I., 2008, Sustainable Development: Past Conflicts and Future Challenges. Taking Stock of the Sustainable Discourse. Spangenberg, J. H. (ed.). Münster: Verlag Westfälisches Dampfboot, p. 177-197 21 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksContributions to collected editions/anthologiesResearchpeer-review

  6. Published

    Native-born German and immigrant children’s development of emotion knowledge: A latent growth curve analysis

    Voltmer, K. & Salisch, M., 03.2019, In: British Journal of Developmental Psychology. 37, 1, p. 112-129 18 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    Natural clay as a sorbent to remove pharmaceutical micropollutants from wastewater

    Mahouachi, L., Rastogi, T., Palm, W. U., Ghorbel-Abid, I., Ben Hassen Chehimi, D. & Kümmerer, K., 01.11.2020, In: Chemosphere. 258, 127213.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    Naturaleza en lienzo: narraciones sobre relaciones humanos-naturaleza usando métodos basados en arte en La Paz, Bolivia

    Benavides-Frias, C., Ortiz-Przychodzka, S. & Schaal, T., 30.09.2022, In: Letras Verdes. 32, 32, p. 67-87 21 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  9. Published

    Natural formation of chloro- and bromoacetone in salt lakes of Western Australia

    Sattler, T., Sörgel, M., Wittmer, J., Bourtsoukidis, E., Krause, T., Atlas, E., Benk, S., Bleicher, S., Kamilli, K., Ofner, J., Kopetzky, R., Held, A., Palm, W. U., Williams, J., Zetzsch, C. & Schöler, H. F., 01.11.2019, In: Atmosphere. 10, 11, 21 p., 663.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. Published

    Natural habitat does not mediate vertebrate seed predation as an ecosystem dis-service to agriculture

    Schäckermann, J., Mandelik, Y., Weiss, N., von Wehrden, H. & Klein, A. M., 04.2015, In: Journal of Applied Ecology. 52, 2, p. 291-299 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review